Everest Base Camp Trekking – more than just a trekking

Everest Base Camp Trekking – There is a lot to it than mere trekking. A simple glance of the highest peak in the world completes life for most adventurers.

You get to see a whole horde of mountains in an exciting romantic mountain flight

Tell the tale of the exciting flight in a tiny plane, hovering over the uncountable massive hills and looking at the north watching the priceless series of white and glowing mountains. The Everest Base Camp trekking flight lasts around 40 minutes. The fact that once you take off from the International airport in Kathmandu, your flight will be jam-packed with the most wonderful view of the Himalayan range probably the rarest view you would ever get will you make it a thrill-filled romantic ride despite the occasional feeling of congestion and recurring sickening turbulences.

A thrilling touch down at the most dangerous airport in the world

A trip to and away from Lukla Airport also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport is an adventure in itself. Dodging through huge mountains, the tiny flying tin takes a nose-dive due to little descend before landing on to a short runway at Lukla airport situated at 2850m altitude, with the elevation of 11degree incline. And with the thud, as the plane’s landing gear drops for a hard brake to get the plane to halt. You learn the value your life and the pray and cherish the experience of a win over life – the Everest, impending long trekking days and magnificent of mountains can wait a day.

And the return flight is even more exciting with sharp charge heading straight towards the sudden drop. For many, such a fate is not an everyday thing which makes the trip to EBC all the more significant. Most trekkers and those looking to scale the summit usually take this flight as the good omen for the beginning and ending their long stay in Everest Region.

Safety first

Yes, flying to Lukla airport is still one of the safest, despite the nerve-wracking location and unpredictable weather. The airport is operated by experienced professionals, keeping your safety as the utmost priority. Usually, the flights take off on good weather day only in a packed schedule to fit in as many flights in and out within the hour of 6 am to 9 am. The only downside for such safety measures results in a delay in flight for an extended period which may be as long as 3 to 5 days as well. Additionally, the pilots attending are specially certified and possess well experienced in visual flying, have good knowledge of the area’s terrain and on top have the calmest of demeanor.

A glorious view of Mount Everest at the sunset

Best season to take on the trek

Mid-June to early August, it is also an offseason in Everest base camp trekking due the monsoon season throughout the country. Unlike in most of other countries, there are 6 different seasons in Nepal. Autumn starts from September till late November and is one the best time to visit Nepal. This season kick starts several local and national festivals and people are usually at their best of the moods.

You can enjoy the best of Nepal in the form of diverse culture and cuisines. Clear blue skies and being the season after monsoon means there are plentiful greenery and awesome numerous waterfalls, shortly after which cold and windy winters follows from December to February. Though very cold, this season is gold for trekking and mountaineering.

Spring starts from mid-February till April, followed by the summer in May and adjacent to summer comes the raunchy monsoon that lasts till late August.

Monsoon is the low key in trekking season in Nepal. As in one hand, heavy continuous rainfalls trigger landslides, avalanches, road blockades elaborates the stay, on the other the gloomy cloudy days are not appealing for photo shoots. The mountains have ways to express their most extreme moods during the monsoon with massive changes in weather within a few minutes. So, most tourists try to skip traveling in a monsoon while planning to visit Nepal.

Everest Base Camp Trekking Route map

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Preparing for the trek

You are required to possess a well maintained overall body condition to go for the trekking to Everest base camp. Walking 4 to 6 hours up and down the hill once a week with some 8 kilos of a backpack will surely ready you to a basic trekking day in the Everest region. Despite that, you will have a day or two for rest and relaxation at the trip to acclimatize the drastic ascend in altitude.

Prepare a checklist for the backpack – reexamine the contents. It is better to travel prepared than to make sudden purchases, some emergency shopping can be an exception though.

Colorful Namche Bazaar

You can buy the items at Thamel, Kathmandu or at the Namche Bazaar. Price, however, may vary according to the location.

Next, you will need to acquire the permits to go for the Everest Base Camp trekking. Generally, there are two permits – Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park entry permit you can obtain from either Kathmandu or from the office at Monjo, second the entry permit to Khumbu region that can only be obtained from Lukla if you are flying or in Monjo office, if you are entering from walking from Jiri or Salleri. There is an additional essential entry permit for those traveling from Jiri to enter the Gaurishankhar conservation area that you can obtain from Kathmandu.

Cost of Everest Base camp Trekking

You can easily book an online package to trek in Everest Base Camp. The cost usually varies from the US $ 1,200.00 to the US $ 5,000.00 depending on the length of your stay. The price usually includes the basics like the necessary permits, meals, and accommodation, two-way flight tickets Kathmandu to Lukla and guide charges. You will have to spend additional money to cover the cost of travel insurance, visa fees and purchase your trekking equipment and gears.

Duration of the trek

A typical round trip to Everest Base camp with the flight to Lukla takes around 14 days. Keeping in mind that the standard 14 days trek to Everest base camp, you will spend 9 days at the foot of Everest, walking towards the base camp at the rate of around 15 kilometers a day. The trip days include the acclimatization day, rest and relaxation day during the trek and in Kathmandu.

Some more things to consider

Trekking in any mountainous areas in Nepal is safe. Depending on your physical strength, stamina and experiences, the difficulties can vary from person to person. Everest Base Camp trek is one of the moderate, safe and awesome trekking routes. You can take them off the beaten route to add some thrill.

Trekking solo has its own perks and risks. Cheaper and easy to customize the trip, traveling in the unknown areas of Everest is risky in regard to any health issues as most feel the altitude sickness and hallucination while walking alone.

The Bottom Line

Everest Base camp is one of the most crowded trekking routes in Nepal. Thus, it can be easily assumed that it is one of the safest trails. So, why to keep it waiting? Take a leap, plan this thrilling once in a lifetime tour and follow through the footsteps of the legendary summiteers.

Many brave souls await you at the Everest Base camp. Take deep fresh Everest breeze. Explore the surrounding. Watch the majestic mountains looking down at you. Take as many photos as you can. Welcome the climbers back to the camp. Share a cup of coffee with them and share stories. At Everest Base camp every second is worth it.